The present work evaluated the influence of calcium silicate on the polygalacturonase enzyme activity, respiration, ethylene, and the physicochemical characteristics on the post-harvest quality of two tomato hybrids. The experimental design was of randomized blocks, with four repetitions in protected cultivation environment. The treatments were distributed in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to the hybrids (Ivety and Natalia) and five doses of calcium silicate (0, 150, 300, 450 and 600 kg ha-1), which were applied on the same day as the pots were filled. Evaluations were carried out on the fruits, namely: ethylene production, fruit respiration, firmness, number of loculus, polygalacturonase activity, total carotenoids, lycopene, phenolic compounds, soluble solids content, pH, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content. The application of calcium silicate provided the reduction of ethylene production and fruit respiration. Natalia hybrid showed low polygalacturonase activity, this difference being due to genetic variabilityThe increase of calcium silicate doses provided the reduction of polygalacturonase enzyme concentration due to its constitution in the cell wall. The concentrations of lycopene, phenolic compounds, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid in the fruits increased in response to the increasing doses of calcium silicate for 'Ivety'. Hybrids present distinct behaviors on the influence of the fertilization of tomatoes with calcium silicate, which can increase the post-harvest conservation and improve the physical-chemical characteristics of tomato fruits.

No estado de São Paulo, o jambu tem sido plantado visando a sua utilização industrial. No entanto, são poucos os trabalhos envolvendo a nutrição mineral e a adubação orgânica no jambu, fazendo com que os agricultores utilizem recomendações de adubação para outras culturas folhosas semelhantes e diferentes adubos. Com isso, objetivou-se avaliar diferentes fontes de adubos orgânicos em cobertura na produção de jambu sob manejo orgânico. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Fazenda Experimental de São Manuel, SP e no sítio Zodíaco, situado no bairro Demétria, município de Botucatu, SP. Foram avaliados seis tratamentos (adubos orgânicos em cobertura: ferticel®, provaso, torta de mamona, bokashi, farinha de casco e chifre e uma testemunha sem cobertura), utilizando delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições. Foram avaliadas, em duas colheitas em cada local: massa da matéria fresca da parte vegetativa (MFPV), das inflorescências (MFINF) e total (MFT), número de inflorescências (NINF) e massa média por inflorescência (MMI). Foram obtidos aumentos de 158 e 78%; 103 e 101%; 143 e 86%; 144 e 85%, na MFPV, MFINFL, NINFL e MFT, respectivamente, com a utilização da farinha de casco e chifre (melhor tratamento, sem diferir da torta de mamona) em comparação ao controle no Sítio Zodíaco e Fazenda Experimental de São Manuel, respectivamente. Os resultados indicam que a farinha de casco e chifre e a torta de mamona foram os melhores adubos em ambos os cortes e localidades, com maior produção tanto de massa fresca como seca das partes vegetativas e reprodutivas do jambu.

Red cabbage microgreens, with high nutraceutical value and peculiar sensory characteristics, has been one of the most studied microgreens for cultivation in plant factories, especially under red and blue light irradiance. However, under white light, it is necessary to know the effect of sowing density on their physiology, yield, and quality, which is the objective of the present study. Five sowing densities (60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 g·m–2) were evaluated in an indoor environment under photosynthetic photon flux density of 250 μmol·m–2·s–1 of white light + 20 μmol·m–2·s–1 of red light, and photoperiod of 20 h. Increase in sowing density caused greater competition among seedlings, which increased hypocotyl length and reduced cotyledon area and shoot dry mass of the microgreens. However, the perceived decreases in the individual plant mass were offset by an increase in the number of plants, which resulted in higher yields as sowing density increased. Efficiency of photosystem II, initial fluorescence, and maximum fluorescence were not influenced by sowing density. As for the quality of microgreens, increasing the sowing density resulted in an effect contrary to that observed for yield and reduced contents of calcium, iron, pigments, and ascorbic acid.

Lettuce is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world, with significant global economic relevance. Furthermore, the demand for organic products today is considerably higher than in the past, causing changes in the production methods, such as the sources of fertilizer. Several nutrients are limiting for the development of lettuce when deficient in the soil, among them phosphorus stands out. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two organic sources of phosphorus at different doses on the production of red-leaf lettuce in an organic farming system. The plants used were from the cultivar Scarlet (Sakata^®), transplanted and placed in 12 L plastic pots in a greenhouse, with 10 treatments being carried out in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme. Yoorin Thermophosphate and Bone Meal were tested at doses of 0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 kg ha^-1 of P₂O₅. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four replications. Bone Meal resulted in plants with higher dry matter weight and plant circumference but lower values for plant height and leaf width. Doses above the recommended (400 kg ha^-1 of P₂O₅ according to the literature for soils with low phosphorus content: 6 mg dm^-3), regardless of the source, resulted in an increase in the values of the characteristics evaluated, but, with a decrease in the increases as high was the dose, except for the number of leaves where the increase was linear. Yoorin Thermophosphate resulted in plants with higher phosphorus content.

Chives are one of the most popular spice plants in world cuisine. It is usually produced by small producers, often in an organic farming system. However, research with chives in this production system is lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the production of chives with the use of organic fertilizers before planting and in top dressing. Seven treatments were evaluated, resulting from the factorial 2x3+1, with two organic fertilizers (castor bean cake and hoof and horn powder) x 3 application modes (100% before planting; 100% in top dressing; 50% before planting and 50% in top dressing) + 1 control (without these organic fertilizers). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five replications and plots of 1 m². The relative index of chlorophyll (“Spad” index), height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight of the plants were evaluated. All treatments of the factorial were better than the control, showing that these organic fertilizers improve production in chives. It is recommended to use the hoof and horn powder in installments (50% before planting and 50% in top dressing) or 100% in top dressing, the latter option being more interesting for reducing the need for labor, with just one application moment.

Due to the lack of specific fertilization recommendations for jambu cultivation, producers commonly usefertilizers recommended for other vegetables. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses oforganic fertilizers, namely hoof and horn powder and castor bean cake, on jambu plant production under anorganic system. The experiments were conducted at the Experimental Farm of São Manuel, SP, belonging to theSchool of Agriculture (FCA) – UNESP, and at the “Estância Três Nascentes” site, located in Botucatu, SP, Brazil.Twelve treatments were evaluated, in a 2 x 6 factorial design, consisting of two organic fertilizers (castor beancake (CBC) and hoof and horn powder (HHP)) x 6 top dressing N doses (50, 75, 100, 125, 150, and 0 (controlwithout these fertilizers)). The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications. Plant height(PH), number of inflorescences (NI), the fresh weight of inflorescence (FWI), the fresh weight of vegetative parts(FWVP), and the total fresh weight (TFW) were evaluated at each location. Linear increases were observed in allcharacteristics in both locations as the fertilizer doses increased. Comparing the highest dose (150 kg ha-1 of N)with the control, increases of 109%, 251%, 218%, 283%, and 227% were obtained at the farm in São Manuel, and69%, 79%, 111%, 276%, and 118% in Botucatu, for PH, NI, FWVP, FWI, and TFW, respectively. When comparing thetwo fertilizers, HHP presented better results than CBC for most characteristics in both areas.